neck ornament

Chest ornament, Tahi, constructed from more than a hundred locks of human hair tightly bound with a coconut fibre snood and attached to a plaited necklace. This necklace terminates in a loop at each end. The locks are arranged in increasing length towards the centre so that the overall effect is one of a crescent shape to the entire pectoral. In this way the tahi both takes the form of an ipu symbol(which signifies mana), and also parallels the form of Fijian whale tooth necklaces and Society Islands taumi gorgets.

‘Wellcome’ catalogue card information found in archives of the Department of Africa, Oceania and The Americas at The British Museum on 5 October 2016 by Alison South. Scanned copy of card in ‘Wellcome’ section of the Horniman Historical files Accessions No. (Stores) 98576 48096 Classification Z Group Section COS Initials in top right hand corner H.M.M. Description of object NECK ORNAMENT Human hair tassels on fibre foundation. 10 ½� x 12� deep. Marquesan Islands. Bought of Edward Armytage, 1, Rutland Gate, S.W.1. Aug. 1931. (1201). Value 40/- At present Case No. 3505 To be placed K.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
nn377
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 400 mm x 440 mm x 38 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
human hair; coconut fibre
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
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